Explosive.



armivs'rum or OAKLANS'), mausoleum.

'nxrtosivn.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

min;

Application filed June 23, 19%. Serial Ho,

To all whom t may camera;

Be it known that 1.,Jnssn Bnonsrmn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of @alifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has as its object the production of an ammonium nitrate'explosive that wiil be sufficiently sensitive to be fired with an ordinary detonating cap,. and also rapid and effective in its actlon for blasting hard rock and for other purposes.

This explosive is produced by mixing and incorporating together ammonium nitrate, sugar (a crystalline carbohydrate) and fineiy subdivided iron pyrites which is a metallic substance that under favorable con ditions rapidly oxidizes with the evolution or intense heat in about the following proport1ons:ammon1um nitrate 76 to 88 parts,

preferably 82.2 parts; sugar 6 to 12 parts,

preferably 9 parts; iron pyrites 6 to 12 parts, preferably 8.8 parts loy'weight. These ingredients are mixed together in a dry state by means of a rolling mill or pulverizing barrel, such as is used in the manufacture of safety explosives, and the operation is carried on until the ammonitnn nitrate and carbohydrate are reduced to a pulverulent state and the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Taking the said substances Within the limits above given and preferahly in the proportions of ammonium nitrate 82.2 parts, sugar 9 parts and fine metailic particles 8.8 parts the mixture possesses a relatively high expiosive coeiiiciont, and is readily fired with ordinary detonatin cap. /Vhen tested in a Trauzl cylinder it indicates an cxplo' sive force of 305 so. using seven grams of the mixture. v

By varying slightly the proportions of the several ingredients Within the limits herein above given the expiosive coeiiicient can be varied. and While reduced somewhat below the degree above given, an explosive sufiiciently povv'erf'ui active for many purposes can he obtained with a smaller proper .P yed' to sensitize cheaply manuiactu tion of the explosive hose. For examplahy increasing the proportion or the iron pyrites from 8 to 11 parts, it is possihie reduce the proportion oi the ammonium nitrate and to reduce aiso the proportion of sensitizing agent. A mixture of anmion nitrate 81.5 parts, sugar 7.5 parts and ir pyrites 11 par s by Weight has an explo force of 285 o.e. under a test of: seven. git, in a Trauzl .cyiinder.

In all forms or grades of the explosive oft my invention, it should he mentioned that the sugar (crystalline carbohydrate) emthe ammonium nitrate is used only in suficient proportion to secure that end, and is not used to change or modify the character of the fumes or ex plosion gases, nor to overcome theiiahility of the composition when f red in amineor in confined quantities to p laden atmosphere, or fire pyrites is an eiie the comhustihility of the or ing the explosive energy more n-e taneous throughout the mass.

As I am aware that sugar and iron pt and'other 'formsot metailic particles ha been empioy'ed in the manufactureof sive compositions, 1 do not ciaim hroz the employment of thoseingredients ei' separately or together. But I am. not av that an'explosive having the desirahle acteristics of exploding with an crdm detonating cap and of having a relatively high explosive coefficient has been produced from the iiigro ients above named Wi employing and. moor-pore or other iu outs, and particularly ot' compounds;

The mixture is ot ing of the ingreiw. carried on an barrel.

1. An nitrate, a orys aid finely divided meta idly oxidizes with the evolution of intense posed of ammonium nitrate 82.2 parts, sugar heat in the proportions of 76 to 88 parts of 9 parts and i-ron pyrites 8.8 parts, substanammonium nitrate, 6 to 12 parts of erystaltially as hereinbefore set forth.

line carbohydrate and 6 to 12parts of finely JESSE B. BRONSTEIN. 5 divided metallic particles by Weight, sub- Witnesses:

stantially a hereinbefore set forth. EDWARD E. OSBORN,

2. An ammonium. nitrate explosive com- M. REGNER. 

